156 Chapter 153 The World Tree (1/2)

After leaving a few more instructions and finis.h.i.+ng the enslavement of the court, who had the bad luck of being at the castle that day, they moved on to visit the elves. The map that had been so useful, also had the world tree marked on it.

Stella was over her fear of heights, thanks to the flight tattoo Joseph had given her, but appearing near the world tree still caused them to have a bit of a start. This realm's world tree was smaller than their own, but it was still too big to comprehend once they were too close to see the edges curve away. The wrinkles on its bark, were thick enough, that they could have walked on them without a problem.

Landing on the ground, they looked to the horizon and still couldn't see the end of its great branches.

(UM. THE WORLD TREE WISHES TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN FIXING THE WORLD TREE IN OUR REALM.)

'Um. Ok. You can talk to it?'

(OH YES. UH. YES MA'AM. SORRY MA'AM. YES, IT IS COMPLETELY MY FAULT.)

'Getting in trouble for your beta version?'

(I CAN'T HELP IT. SHE DOESN'T KNOW I HAVE IMPROVED.)

'Can I talk to it?'

(YOU WOULD NEED PLANT TELEPATHY.)

'Ok, so how many points is that?'

(UHM….50. SAME AS NORMAL TELEPATHY. YOU WOULD NORMALLY TELL ME YOU COULD DO IT WITH MAGIC THOUGH, INSTEAD OF SPENDING POINTS.)

'I'm pressed for time.'

Turning to look at Stella, he saw that she had a slightly vacant look in her eyes.

”Stella, can you talk to the world tree?”

”Of course, Joseph. Though only the elders spoke to the world tree, all of us are capable of it in theory.”

”Ok.”

TELEPATHY.

This would be like a conference call…

(THAT…NEVER MIND.)

'Cool idea, huh? Joe thought of it.'

(JOE DID? AH. I KEEP FORGETTING ABOUT HIM. I AM NOT MEANT TO BE USED ON A SHARED ACCOUNT.)

'Joe is fine with that.”

(NO, I NEED TO MAKE SURE I'M INSTALLED ON JOE, TOO.)

'Joe refuses. You just want to do that so you can split the life points he earned between us.'

(I HADN'T THOUGHT OF THAT.)

'The answer is still no, says Joe. It's creepy. I don't want to be watched all the time. Or so he says, system.'

(WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.)

'He says he knows about your beta; bring it on.'

(YOU KNOW WHAT? JOE IS JUST FINE THE WAY HE IS. WHEN WE GET BACK, LET'S NEVER MENTION THIS TRAVESTY AGAIN, RIGHT?)

'Joe finds that acceptable.'

<you are=”” such=”” an=”” interesting=”” human.=””>

The voice that popped up in his head was feminine. It was odd, though. It sounded kind of like a choir speaking, of hundreds of the same voice recorded and played on top of each other.

Stella said, ”That is just how trees sound, Joseph.”

”It is very nice to meet you,” he responded through Stella.

<you can=”” hear=”” me.=”” that=”” is=”” wonderful.=”” thank=”” you=”” for=”” your=”” efforts=”” to=”” heal=”” your=”” realms=”” me.=””>

”You're welcome. Do you have any ideas on how I could do this more easily?”

”Your use of p.r.o.nouns is a bit hard to follow.”

”No, you don't need to apologize; that makes sense. Plus, I'm really just reading Stella's mind and not talking to you directly, so some issues are bound to happen.

”If I take a branch from you, to replant in my realm, could I just burn down the world tree there?”

<oh, no!=”” it=”” has=”” collected=”” all=”” of=”” the=”” corrupted=”” mana=”” since=”” the=”” elves=”” used=”” the=”” rune=”” to=”” suppress=”” it.=”” if=”” the=”” mana=”” isn't=”” cleansed=”” and=”” is=”” just=”” released,=”” it=”” would=”” wash=”” over=”” your=”” entire=”” realm.=””>